1. Problem statement: Simplify the expression $$-3 - [4x + 7x - (12 + 2x) + 4]$$ for $$x = -2$$. 2. Combine like terms inside the brackets: $$4x + 7x = 11x$$ So the expression becomes: $$-3 - [11x - (12 + 2x) + 4]$$ 3. Simplify inside the parentheses: $$-(12 + 2x) = -12 - 2x$$ So the expression inside the brackets is: $$11x - 12 - 2x + 4$$ 4. Combine like terms inside the brackets: $$11x - 2x = 9x$$ $$-12 + 4 = -8$$ So the expression inside the brackets is: $$9x - 8$$ 5. Now the whole expression is: $$-3 - [9x - 8]$$ 6. Remove the brackets by distributing the minus sign: $$-3 - 9x + 8$$ 7. Combine constants: $$-3 + 8 = 5$$ So the simplified expression is: $$5 - 9x$$ 8. Substitute $$x = -2$$: $$5 - 9(-2) = 5 + 18 = 23$$ Final answer: $$23$$